What are decimal odds?
Decimal odds are a single number, such as 2.50, showing the total amount returned for every one unit staked, including the stake itself, so stake multiplied by odds equals your payout.
This is the easiest odds format there is, and the one I use everywhere on this site. One multiplication and you know what lands in your account.
- Return = stake × odds
- Profit = stake × (odds − 1)
Decimal odds are standard across Europe, Australia and Canada, and on every betting exchange. UK bookies lean on fractional odds and US sportsbooks on American odds, but both let you switch to decimal in the settings. You’ll sometimes see them called European odds.
Example
You stake $20 at 2.50.
- Return: 20 × 2.50 = $50
- Profit: $50 − $20 = $30
To see what chance the price implies, divide 1 by the odds: 1 ÷ 2.50 = 0.40, or 40%. That number is the implied probability.
| Decimal odds | Return on $10 | Profit | Implied chance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.50 | $15 | $5 | 66.7% |
| 2.00 | $20 | $10 | 50.0% |
| 3.00 | $30 | $20 | 33.3% |
| 5.00 | $50 | $40 | 20.0% |
Watch out
The stake is inside the number. New bettors see 1.50 and think “50% profit plus something”. No: 1.50 means your $10 becomes $15 in total. And 2.00 is the break-even line for a coin flip. Anything below 2.00 means you risk more than you stand to win.
Two more perks. Comparing prices is instant, because 2.10 is obviously better than 2.05. And accumulator maths is just multiplying the legs together.
Need to translate a price? Use the odds converter, or read how betting odds work for all three formats.